Principles of Ecology and Conservation Overview Save

Principles of Ecology

The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Organismal Ecology

The study of how an organism's structure, function, and behavior meet the challenges of its environment.

Population Ecology

The study of factors that affect population size and evolution (a population is one species occupying a given environment).

Community Ecology

The study of interactions between populations in a given environment.

Ecosystem Ecology

The study of biotic and abiotic factors influencing a defined environment and its communities.

Landscape Ecology

The study of energy and material flow as well as organisms across multiple ecosystems.

Global Ecology

The study of how the regional exchange of energy and material influences the distribution of organisms globally.

Variation in Sunlight

Not all regions of the globe are hit by sunlight similarly, setting up drastically different environmental conditions at different latitudes.

Global Air Circulation and Precipitation Patterns

These patterns establish the amount of precipitation and availability of water and influence regional temperatures.

Seasonality

The movement of the earth around the sun establishes seasons with varying temperatures and precipitation.

Bodies of Water

Because of high specific heat, bodies of water can influence the climate of coastal regions.

Mountains

Mountains may disrupt air movement and affect precipitation.

Microclimates

Small regional differences that may influence the distribution of species.

Cove Forest

A specific type of microclimate that has unique characteristics compared to surrounding areas.

Global Climate Change

Significant changes in patterns that are deemed normal, accelerated by human influences on the environment.

Impact of Temperature Rise

Imagining a rise of 2 degrees C in average temperatures and its potential impact on species distribution.

Major Life Zones

Characterized by dominant species, vegetation type, and climate, affected and maintained by disturbance.

Tropical Forest

lush vegetation, adequate seasonal or consistent rainfall, incredible biodiversity

Desert

low and variable precipitation, often located at 30 degrees latitude, low and scattered vegetation that is adapted to arid conditions, many nocturnal animals

Savanna

long dry season, scattered trees among grasses, large herbivores and many insects

Chaparral

rainy winters and dry summers, low shrubby plants, three cool seasons, significant plant diversity, browsing animals are common (deer)

Temperate Grassland

seasonal precipitation with dry, cold winters and wet summers, many types of grass, periodic drought and fire, large grazing animals, fertile soils

Northern Coniferous Forest

precipitation is variable, winters very cold, summers often hot, dominated by cone-bearing trees, bird dense, many mammals, threatened by logging

Temperate Broadleaf Forest

moderate climates and rainfall. Dominant species are the deciduous trees, heavily logged and chosen for human habitation.

Tundra

high winds, low temperatures, little rainfall, plants are short in stature and ephemeral, large grazing and migratory animals, at risk due to oil reserves.

Zonation

Zonation in aquatic systems depends on how deeply light can penetrate, how deep the water is, and its location.

Photic zone

light can penetrate, and photosynthesis can be sustained.

Aphotic zone

little light penetrates and photosynthesis cannot happen.

Benthic zone

this represents the floor of the body of water and holds detritus that is decomposing.

Pelagic zone

this represents open water.

Littoral zone

shallow edge zones of lakes and ponds.

Limnetic zone

away from edges and deeper water in lakes.

Intertidal zone

washed by the tide, sometimes underwater, sometimes not.

Neritic zone

shallow regions close to shore or sandbars.

Oceanic zone

deep zones far from the shore.

Thermoclines

different strata of temperature in water, exist with seasons.

Lakes

standing bodies of water of various sizes, may be oligotrophic (nutrient-poor and oxygen-rich) or eutrophic (nutrient-rich and oxygen-poor).

Wetlands

inundated with water part of the time, act as biological filters for water run-off, important for flood prevention.

Streams and Rivers

moving water of varying velocities, great capacity to carve out the landscape, often turbulent.

Estuaries

a transition zone between river and sea, brackish, often salty inflow from the ocean, very nutrient-rich.

Intertidal Zones

submerged twice daily by tides, often brutally hot or buffeted by waves, variation in temperature and salinity.

Oceanic Pelagic Zone

open ocean zone susceptible to ocean currents, distinct photic and aphotic zones.

Coral Reefs

formed from calcium carbonate skeletons of corals, incredibly biodiverse but threatened.

Marine Benthic Zone

sea floor with many sessile organisms.

Species Limitations

Species are limited in where they are found based on ecological factors as well as evolutionary history.

Dispersal

refers to the movement of individuals and their gametes away from their area of origin.

Dispersal

The ability of some species to move away from their origin and increase their distribution.

Distribution Limit

The point at which a species reaches a limit of its distribution, which may be biotic or abiotic.

Biotic Factors

Influences from other species that affect a species, including competition, predation, herbivory, and resource partitioning.

Abiotic Factors

Non-biological factors that may affect species distribution, such as temperature, water and oxygen, salinity, sunlight, rocks, and soil.

Ecological Change

Changes in ecosystems that are closely linked to evolutionary changes and influence each other.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Climate Change Concerns

Ecologists are concerned with climate change due to its ramifications on biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

Terrestrial Biomes

Major land ecosystems characterized by distinct climate, flora, and fauna.

Aquatic Biomes

Major water ecosystems characterized by their unique environmental conditions and organisms.

Aquatic Zones

Different regions in lakes and oceans that influence the types of organisms that can live there.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, affected by both abiotic and biotic factors.

Conservation

An integrative discipline aimed at conserving biological diversity and preventing extinction.

Genetic Diversity

The variation of genes within a population and between populations.

Species Diversity

The number of different species in an ecosystem, including endangered and threatened species.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of ecosystems that maintain species and allow them to thrive.

Benefits of Biodiversity

The advantages biodiversity provides to humans, including food, medicine, and shelter.

Ecosystem Services

Processes provided by natural ecosystems that sustain human life, such as water purification and pollination.

Habitat Loss

The alteration of habitats by humans, considered the greatest threat to biodiversity.

Introduced Species

Species moved by humans to new locations, often outcompeting native species.

Overharvesting

The excessive removal of wild species by humans, leading to population declines.

Global Change

An alteration of global patterns in weather, greenhouse effects, acid rain, etc that are directly attributable to human activities like the burning of fossil fuels, industrial waste, depletion of ozone, etc.

Small Population Approach

An approach focusing on small populations that are vulnerable to human activity, necessitating protection.

Minimum Viable Population Size

The size of the population that begins to be affected by the extinction vortex, representing the minimum size in which a population can sustain its numbers.

Effective Population Size

A measure that looks not just at the number of individuals in a species but at its breeding potential.

Declining Population Approach

An approach that focuses on species showing a downward trend and examines the factors causing the decline to stop it.

Conflicting Demands

The consideration of costs and benefits of saving a species, such as balancing human infrastructure needs with habitat preservation.

Fragmentation and Edges

The characteristics of edges between ecosystems that become more pronounced as ecosystems become fragmented.

Corridors

Attempts to connect ecosystems for the movement of organisms in disrupted areas, as well as natural corridors through mountains or across rivers.

Biodiversity Hot Spots

Relatively small areas with rich species diversity that, when protected, help care for more species.

Nature Reserves

Considered 'islands' of biodiversity in altered habitats, which can vary in size from small tracts in housing developments to large tracts in regions.

Zoned Reserves

Extensive regions that are relatively undisturbed, surrounded by human activity, such as marine sanctuaries and national parks.

Urban Ecology

The study of organisms and their environment in urban settings, with a focus on urban streams.

Extinction Vortex

A phenomenon where small populations drive themselves to extinction through a cycle of decreasing numbers.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Ecological Role

The role a species plays in its ecosystem, including its interactions with other species and its contribution to ecosystem functions.

Human Activity Impact

The effects of human actions, such as habitat destruction and pollution, on wildlife and ecosystems.

Conservation Biologists

Scientists who study and work to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.

Ecosystem Fragmentation

The process of dividing ecosystems into smaller, isolated patches, often due to human development.

Species Decline Factors

Various elements that contribute to the decreasing populations of certain species, including habitat loss and climate change.

Ecosystem Characteristics

The unique features and functions of different ecosystems, which can be affected by fragmentation and human activity.

Conservation Strategies

Methods employed to protect and preserve biodiversity, including the establishment of reserves and corridors.

Biodiversity Preservation

Efforts aimed at maintaining the variety of life on Earth, including species diversity and ecosystem health.

Human Infrastructure

The physical structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society, which can impact natural habitats.

Nutrient Enrichment

Nutrient enrichment has been a byproduct of our quest to grow more food on less land in shorter periods of time, resulting in the run-off of fertilizers into river systems.

Environmental Toxins

Environmental toxins are often by-products of human activity and industry that release toxins into the environment.

Greenhouse Gases

The release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and deforestation greatly increases carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, creating the greenhouse effect.

Depletion of Ozone

Depletion of ozone allows more sunlight to reach the earth's surface, exacerbating the greenhouse effect and climate change.

Sustainable Development

strives to improve the human condition while conserving the environment and ensuring future generations can meet their needs.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Threatened Species

Threatened species are those that are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

Endangered Species

Endangered species are those that are at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range.

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss is a significant threat to biodiversity, often caused by human activities such as urban development and agriculture.

Introduced Species

Introduced species are non-native species that are brought into a new habitat, which can threaten local biodiversity.

Overharvesting

the excessive removal of species from their natural habitats, leading to population declines.